Subject-matter plotting and selector dial



April 8, 1958 A. OSTERGARD 2,829,618

SUBJECT-MATTER PLOTTING AND SELECTOR DIAL Filed June 1, 1956 Axe/ Os/ergard Z 43 INVENTORV 224 BY anlfluwy 5M5 United States Patent SUBJECT-MATTER PLOTTING AND SELECTOR DIAL Axel Ostergard, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,701

3 Claims. (Cl. 116-114 This invention relates to a novel and practical accessory which is expressly designed and aptly constructed for use in associated conjunction with a reel of tape on a tape recorder and has reference in particular to a recorded subject-matter dial on which data pertaining to a special program, event, theme or the like may be written and denoted with a suitable mark and which subsequently serves as a finder and localizing guide when a starting and finishing portion of the tape is to be picked out for playback or similar usage.

Keeping in mind the commercial prerequisites of simplicity of construction and use, satisfactory accomplishment of the intended end results, manufacturing economies, retailing and the like the invention, in its preferred form, comprises an expedient cardboard or an equivalent dial having printed blank spaces orderly arranged tobe filled in with the intended descriptive data and rnemoranda. By preference straight parallel lines are used.

More specifically, the invention comprises the stated dial embodying a marginal handle which aids in applying, removing and holding the dial steady while localizing the markings and making notes for future reference needs.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on a selector dial characterized by a fiat-faced dial adapted to be mounted atop the reel of tape and temporarily connected with the usual spindle, said dial being approximately ovate in plan, and providing a generally disk-like body portion and a radial extension on a marginal sector thereof providing a handle, that portion of the dial which is diametrically opposite to said handle being notched out and the notch extending radially from the axial center and having its outer end open and opening through the outer peripheral edge of the dial, the marginal edges of said notch being straight from end to end, the top face of said dial having spaced parallel straight lines inscribed thereon and providing reference data receiving spaces, certain of said lines starting at one end even with one of the marginal edges of said notch and assisting in guiding one in plotting and orderly designating the placement of guiding marks along said marginal edge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dial having the above-stated structural characteristics and wherein the slot or notch provides a single window or sight opening and the length of the notch is such that it reaches from the axial center through the periphery and makes it possible to slide the dial into and out of position.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. l is a plan view showing a fragmentary portion of what may be conveniently referred to as a conventionaltype tape recorder and showing, more particularly, the subject-matter plotting and selector dial and its construction and mode of use;

2,829,618 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on the plane of the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of said dial and from which it can be seen, in dotted lines, that the shape of the slot or notch may be either V-shaped or rectangular or in form and opens through the margin and has at least one marginal straight edge for marking purposes;

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of modified forms of the invention in which the shape of each dial is rectangular and the lines and spaces are slightly diiferent as are the notches.

It seems unnecessary in connection with Fig. 1 to dwell upon the structural details of the tape recording machine. All that appears to be necessary is to mention the reel 6, the tape 8 and the hub or spindle 10. The readily applicable and removable data dial is slipped into position and retained in its intended position by way of the spindle. The dial rests atop the reel and is of a diameter or size somewhat greater than that of the reel. The dial, as before mentioned, may be of cardboard, suitable sheet material, such as commercial plastics and is within the purview of the invention to utilize any suitable sight opening or window whether it be a slot, a notch or simply an inscribed area which would be transparent, let us say. The preferred embodiment of the invention is that shown and here the dial, as a structural entity, is denoted by the numeral 12. In general plan configuration it may be said to be approximately ovate. The major or body portion is therefore somewhat, if not approximately circular or discoidal in plan as at 14. The narrow end at the right in the drawings, and which is somewhat V-shaped in plan is denoted at 16 and this provides a handle or hand-grip. It facilitates applying, removing or otherwise holding and handling the dial when it is in use. The sight opening or window is preferably arranged diametrically opposite to the handle to. facilitate sliding the dial into position or removing it as is obvious. To this end, the part of the body of the dial diametrically opposite to the handle is formed with a slot or notch. It is treated as a notch here because it is closed at its inner end as at 18 where it is axially terminated and suitably rounded to form a seat or spindle 10. It is sufiiciently long that the outer end thereof extends through the margin as at 20. The notch as an entity is denoted by the numeral 22, and its preferred embodiment is shown in full lines. That is to say, it is preferably V-shap'ed in plan and the wider end is disposed outwardly and the marginal lengthwise edges are straight as at 24 and 26. The top surface of the dial is suitably printed. In practice it will have directions and explanatory notes for use in illustrating features and advantages. The right hand denoted at 32. Actually this assists in one placing markhalf will be, as shown, provided with printed blank notations for data receivingspaces. Specifically, spaced'par allel straight lines 28 are provided and these define spaces 32 therebetween to receive memoranda such as song titles, dates, time or equivalent rnemoranda as shown for instance in Fig. 1. Some of the lines, those at the left in Fig. 3, actually terminate with and cooperate with the straight edge 26. The terminal ends of the lines are ing lines or other indices of the bracket-type shown at 34 in Fig. 1. The marking lines are usually placed to show the starting and finishing points of the recorded portion of the tape.

As is known to those who desire to quicklyrefer to some particular portion of a recorded tape for playback and other purposes, finding the beginning and ending is often a time-consuming and frustrating job. By using this finder and indicator the perplexing difficulties are for the most part not encountered. It is repeated that the ovate construction is desirable in that it enables the operator to have a handle which in turn enables holding the disk or dial with one hand over the reel as a gauge while the other hand is free to stop and start the reel when the tape line reaches the point along the edge of the triangular cut-out or slot.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Some tape recorders operate two ways with the same tape and the two marking edges along the V-notch makes marking in two directions simple. The handle makes it possible to place and remove the finder or dial without interferring with the mechanical function of the reel While it is spinning. It is to be noted that the dial can be placed in a typewriter.

The plotting and selector dial does not necessarily have to have the ovate shape specified on the drawing and in the specification. The precise shape is unimportant provided there is a notch which fits over the spindle and the tape line is visible for marking. The main thing is gauging radially and marking the tape line and marking title of the recordings for future reference, all on one sheet.

How to use the program finder.-Hold the dial or finder with one hand on top of reel, centering it on spindle. Mark tape-line on edge of V-notch at beginning and end of recording with a pen or pencil While reel is at stop. Remove the finder while recording or playing back. Extend tape-line marks to title lines. Starter marks at bottom and finish marks at top. When using two-way recorders, reverse top and bottom marks for opposite direction and use both edges of V-notch for marking. Write title of program on title lines between marks. Hold the dial with one hand on top of reel, centering it on spindle. Start recorder at fast speed With the other hand and watch tape line move to the desired mark at edge of V- notch. When tape line is in line with marking at V-notch, stop the reel, remove the finder and turn recorder on playback.

With reference to Figs. 4 and 5 these are utilized in conjunction with Fig. 3 to show that not only will the notch 22 in Fig. 3 vary in size and shape, it also may occupy different positions on dials of different shapes. For example, in Fig. 4 the dial is denoted by reference character 12A and the notches corresponding to the notch 22 are here denoted by 22A and they are located at respective corner portions of the dial. spaces 38 are suitably arranged for cooperation with the marginal edges 40 in an obvious manner.

The same theme is carried out in Fig. 5 wherein the modification is denoted by the reference character 12B and here the notch which opens through the edge is denoted by the character 22B and cooperates with the edges 42 and 44 with the aid of the lines 46 and spaces 48. The lines and spaces will be of any number and cooperable The lines 36 and with the marginal edges and notch in suitable relationship. These modifications are employed to show the versatile nature of the over-all concept.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use on and in conjunction with a tape recorder; a program and subject-matter plotting, marking and locating device comprising a readily applicable and removable flat-faced guide having an unobstructed top side provided with prescribed blank spaces in which the desired reference data may be written and indexed, said guide having at least one sight area by Way of which the reeled and recorded tape windings are constantly visible, said sight area having. at least one radially disposed indicator line, whereby one or more marks may be indicated thereon and suitably charted and interrelated with the selected data for current and future reference purposes, said sight area comprising a notch which extends from the axial center of the guide and radiates and opens through the outer marginal edge of the guide.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein said guide comprises a sheet material blank which is generally ovate in plan, the narrower end thereof serving as a handle, said blank spaces being defined by spaced parallel lengthwise straight lines.

3. For use in rapidly spotting and locating a portion of a recorded tape carrying a desired program, theme, subject-matter or the like, a subject-matter classifying, indexing, marking, and selector device comprising a flatfaced dial adapted to be mounted atop the reel of tape and temporarily connected with the usual spindle, said dial being approximately ovate in plan and providing a generally disk-like body portion and a radial extension on a marginal sector thereof providing a handle, that portion of the dial which is diametrically opposite to said handle being notched out and the notch extending radially from the axial center and having its outer end open and opening through the outer peripheral edge of the dial, said notch being V-shaped in plan and ample in size to provide a sight opening exposing all of the windings of the reeled tape, the marginal edges of said notch being straight from end to end, the top face of said dial having spaced parallel straight lines inscribed thereon and providing reference data receiving spaces, certain of said lines starting at one end even with one of the marginal edges of said notch and assisting in the guiding one in plotting and orderly designating the placement of guiding marks along said marginal edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,788,784 Tulchin Jan. 13, 1931 2,237,920 Armitt Apr. 8, 1941 2,575,131 Salkin Nov. 13, 1951 2,781,019 Tiger Feb. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 886,490 France July 5, 1943 

